Different Perspectives on Instruction: The Comparison of Perceptions From Instructional Supervisors and Students

• In Event: Comparing International Perspectives Regarding Educational Supervision

Abstract

Instructional quality can be evaluated by student surveys or observations by supervisors. However, little is known how these two methods are related. This study uses quantitative and qualitative data to explore the relationship between students and supervisors’ perceptions of instructional quality. The teaching practice of 20 teachers in Chinese primary education was evaluated by supervisors and students. A student questionnaire was used to measure 497 students’ evaluation of the teachers during three lessons. These lessons were also evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively by 10 supervisors. The quantitative data reported fairly low correlations between students’ and supervisors’ perceptions of instructional quality. The qualitative data indicated that students and supervisors use different quality criteria, and focus on different aspects of instruction quality.

Authors

• Xin Zhang, Leiden University

• Wilfried Admiraal, Leiden University

• Nadira Saab, Leiden University